The National Assembly on Friday removed three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders from key parliamentary posts in view of their disqualifications after they were convicted in May 9 rioting cases.
The National Assembly Secretariat has removed Omar Ayub as Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House; Zartaj Gul as parliamentary leader; and Ahmad Chattha as deputy parliamentary leader. Ayub has also been removed from the public accounts and finance committees.
Both Ayub and Gul were convicted by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad and subsequently de-notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Chatta was convicted by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Mianwali. All three face 10 years’ imprisonment though have vowed to challenge the decisions in high court.
According to the Secretariat, the chamber allocated to the opposition leader has been withdrawn, with the speaker informing the House of the members’ disqualification under assembly rules. Consultations are underway between the opposition and the speaker for the appointment of a new opposition leader,
Additionally, the National Assembly has withdrawn the memberships of 15 standing committees from seven lawmakers belonging to the PTI, removing three senior leaders from key posts. Sahibzada Hamid Raza, also convicted by the Faisalabad ATC, was stripped of the chairmanship of the standing committee on Human Rights, while Zartaj Gul lost her membership in the same. Rai Hassan Nawaz was removed as chairperson of the standing committee on Railways.